GUIDED BY FEELINGS

 

1.      More than 30 years ago a man wrote a tract entitled, “Are feelings a Safe guide?”

2.      This tract is in one of our new racks, and it is still a very relevant topic.

3.      Most who knocked on doors met people who were substantially influenced by their feelings.

4.      There are people around us who feel like their relationship with God is good.

 

WHEN WE FIND THOSE WHO USE FEELINGS AS A GUIDE FOR RELIGION, A GOOD CHAPTER TO CONSIDER IS ACTS 8.

 

1.      Here Luke tells us about the first Christian to lose his life because of religious persecution.

2.      According to the text, “Saul” consented to the death of Stephen.

 

3.      Saul (who later became Paul), gave his wholehearted approval to killing this member of the church.

4.      Paul felt very good about persecuting Christians such as Stephen.

5.      Acts 22:20 is even more specific.

6.      When Paul later referred back to this time he said, “I was there.”

7.      “Not only was I present, I consented to the actions.”

8.      “I kept people’s clothes so they could commit murder.”

9.      Another reference which tells us about Paul’s mindset is Acts 26:9.

10.  In this verse Paul said, “I thought I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus.”

11.  Paul had strong feelings and ideas about the Lord but he found out that he was wrong.

 

12.  Paul committed an error that is still being committed today.

13.  He approached Christianity by using his own judgment and personal feelings.

14.  Paul came to learn that these approaches to the gospel are not right.

15.  This former persecutor learned learn that Christianity is a fact based religion.

16.  Consider what Paul said to the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 15:1-4 – READ.

17.  There are facts to be believed, commands to be obeyed, and promises to be received.

18.  A complimentary reference is Acts 18:4-5.

19.  Luke recorded how Paul “reasoned” with people in the synagogue.

20.  Paul “persuaded” people that Christianity was right.

 

21.  There are some big differences between facts and feelings.

22.  One of the biggest differences is the concreteness of both.

23.  We can test and prove facts; feelings are in a different category.

24.  This is why Satan is able to frequently use feelings to his advantage.

25.  He can let people feel they are saved when they are really not saved.       

26.  Jesus spoke of this in Mt. 7.

27.  The Lord promised that a large number of people will come to the judgment believing they are okay.

28.  These people will have felt saved but their feelings were incorrect.

29.  I have lost track of people who were misled by feelings.

30.  It may have been turning or not turning on a road.

31.  Others felt good about business deals that went sour.

32.  Not a few felt uncomfortable with business deals that were actually very lucrative.

33.  Feelings are frequently deceptive.

34.  In the area of religion, following feelings can be a fatal mistake that lasts for eternity.

35.  Many will eventually learn that Satan has tricked large numbers of religious people with feelings.

 

36.  His also entraps people with facts.

37.  He can twist them, distort them, and often turn them to his advantage.

 

WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SALVATION, THE SCRIPTURES STRESS KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING BIBLE FACTS OVER FEELINGS.

 

 

1.      Consider what is recorded a little later in Acts 17:10-11.

2.      The text says people “received the word.”

3.      They were exposed to and studied the facts relative to Christianity.

4.      They then “searched the scriptures daily” to see if the information they received was true.

5.      This was how truth was established by people in the first century.

6.      Feelings were not used a guide because they can be wrong.

 

7.      Though this is true, we live in a time when personal feelings are elevated to a high level of authority.

8.      We knocked on area doors where people were guided by their feelings.

9.      I heard things like, “We worship at _____ because we like it.”

10.  “We feel good about our spiritual life.”

11.  Not one person “we worship across the way because it does things as the Bible describes.”

12.  Today, with some, it is almost if feelings are the ultimate authority.

13.  When polls are taken they are usually prefaced with, “How do you feel?”

14.  We need to know and show folks what the scriptures say.

15.  In Mt. 28:18 Jesus claimed to have “all authority.”  This is a fact.

16.  It is one thing for the Lord to have all authority.

17.  It is another for His authority to be binding upon us.

 

18.  We may have authority in our household but that authority does not affect another household.

19.  What about the authority possessed by Jesus?

20.  Mk. 9:7 says the Father spoke from heaven and said this about the Lord:

21.  “Hear ye Him.”

22.  What does the word hear mean?  It means obey.

23.  Instead of using feelings for our guide, we need to obey the Lord.

24.  Acts 3:23 adds a little more information to the picture.

25.  If we do not obey the Lord in “all things” (Acts 3:22), we will be destroyed (Acts 3:23).

26.  How we feel about obedience is not part of the equation.

27.  Another important point is found in Gal. 3:15.

28.  A few hours ago a Bible study was conducted in the county jail.

29.  Those who were present thought about the Old Testament and the New Testament.

30.  Differences between the two covenants (agreements) were discussed.

31.  I did not introduce Gal. 3:15, but this is a very important verse.

 

32.  Here is what Paul said – READ.

33.  Most in this room have signed some type of agreement.

34.  Perhaps the agreement was for a large item:  a house, boat, car, or RV.

35.  Suppose that you had signed on the dotted line and agreed on a price of $10,000.

36.  Sometime after the agreement was signed you felt like the price was too much.

 

37.  You concluded you feel better about paying $6,500 so you say you are changing the agreement.

38.  Paul said the world doesn’t work that way.

39.  “Though it be a man’s covenant” (a human agreement), it is binding.

40.  Paul’s point is really a contrast.

41.  If human agreements are binding, how much more is an agreement from God?

42.  When we speak of a New Testament we are talking about an agreement with and from God.

43.  How we feel about what is in this agreement is completely irrelevant.

 

44.  In fact, earlier in the Galatian letter Paul spoke about altering God’s covenant.

45.  He said if any other message were preached the person would be anathema (cut off from God).

46.  The Bible has examples who tried fact over feeling.

47.  Cain presented an offering that did not please God.

48.  He had his own ideas and God rejected his offering.

49.  We have considered Paul’s life before he became a Christian.

50.  He also had strong feelings about religion but God would not accept his service.

51.  The Old Testament tells about two fellows named Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2).

52.  There is a story about Uzzah touching the ark as it was about to fall.

 

53.     Again and again feelings were put above the facts from God and each time there were negative consequences.

54.  It may be hard to accept, but there is an important fact in the scriptures.

55.  There are some things wherein we have no choice.

56.  There are areas in religion where feelings are completely out of place.

 

IN FACT, I WOULD SUGGEST WE CAN CONSIDER THIS ENTIRE DISCUSSION IN THE SIMPLEST OF TERMS:

 

1.      Is the Bible sufficient by itself or is it not?

2.      Stated another way, is the Bible all that we need for a religious guide?

3.      This is a yes or no question.

 

4.      If we say “Yes, the Bible is sufficient,” then the scriptures alone are all we need.

5.      Feelings have no purpose in deciding what is right and wrong in religion.

6.      What if we take the other answer?

7.      What happens if we say, “the Bible alone is not sufficient to guide us through life and to heaven.”

8.      This option says God is a liar.

9.      Verses like 2 Pet. 1:3 says that God has given to us all that pertains to life and godliness.

10.  If we need something else such as feelings, we do not have everything that pertain to life and godliness.

11.  Furthermore, the Bible shows by the examples already given that facts and feelings often conflict.

12.  Paul felt one way but the facts taught something else.

13.  Feelings are good if we use them in the right areas.

 

14.  We cannot, however, use them as a guide in religion.

15.  This is what we can show people as we return to the world this week.

16.  For those who are here tonight we earnestly hope you want to approach God by using His word.